Antenna



septw 11, 192s. 1,684,262

` R. c. cLlNKER ANTENNA l Filed Feb. 15, 1924r /1 v y l Ivennor-:

Reginald C. Clinker;

His Abnovneg.

Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED` STATES PATENT OFFICE...

REGINALD CHARLES CLINKER, OF BILTON, NEAR RUBGY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.,

ANTENNA.

Application filed February 13, 1924, Serial No. 692,463, and in Great Britain February 28, 1923. v

My present invention relates to a wireless signalling vaerial or antenna `and more particularly to an aerial of the frame or loop type.

In accordance with the present invention the frame aerial is made collapsible and consists of a number of radial arms, which are adapted to support the aerial wire, pivotally attached to a central boss or base plate.

im The aerial is preferably so constructed that when it is opened out the arms move slightly beyond the position in which they are in one plane and are so arranged that in the extended position they are kept rigid and .15 locked to the base plate by the tension in the wire. Thus when not in use the frame antenna can be folded up and is` compact and readily portable.

` The invention is illustrated in the accom- 440 panying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the aerial in'its extended position; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the boss, showing how the radial arms are attached thereto; Figure `"5 is a side elevation l5 of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a view showing the manner in which the frame maybe Asecured toa collapsible support.

As shown in Figure 1, the aerial consists of four arms 10, 11, 12 and 13 which are 5W attached to a central boss or base vplate'llt by pivots which arefspaced from the stop surface of the base plate, the latter constituting a holding member. The arms radiate from the base plate and form with the .sa plate a toggle joint for locking the arms in the normal expanded position. The aerial wire 15 is wound uponthese four arms in the form of a square spiral, the wire being located in slots cut in the radial arms and u held in position in the slots by means of retaining members 16 which are attached to the arms so as to cover the open ends of the slots. These slots may be positioned an equal distance from one another or they may be so spaced that the length of each cornplete turn of wire bears 'a particular relation to the length of the adjacent turns.

The arm 10 is provided with a number of terminals 17, a corresponding 'number of M' turns of the wire being 1n conducting relation with a terminal. The terminals are in the form of plugs and any two terminals may be connected together by means of the plug connectors 18 so as to short-circuit any 5 given number of turns of the wire.

In Figure 3, it will be noticed that on eX- tending the arms they move slightly beyond the position in which they are in one plane and the tension of the wire thus serves to lock the arms to the base plate and to keep the fra-me rigidly extended. Similar reference numerals are used in each figure to refer' to like parts.

On swinging the arms together around their respective pivots, the wire falls in the natural folds and shows no tendency to get entangled.. A suitable stand may be provided on to which one of the arms m'ay be fixed, this arm their being preferably of greater Vlength than the remaining arms. This stand may be of tripod form, as indicated in Fig. 4'. the legs 19 of the tripod being adapted to fold onto the arm 10 to which the tripod head 2O is attached. The legs of the tripod are attached to the head by means of pins 21 which are free to slide in the slots 22. The weight of the frame on the head forces the pins to thefend of the slots so that the upper ends of the tripod legs bear against the armc10 of the frame as indicated, thus keeping Athe tripod rigid. Then the frame is lifted the legs may be rotated around the pins and closed together for transportation.

What I claim as new andV desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. A collapsible frame antenna comprising a central boss, a plurality of radial arms pivotally attached to said boss, and a plurality of turns of wire secured to said arms, said arms being so arranged that when extended they will move a small distance beyond the position where they are all in one plane and will be held in position by the tension of the wire.

2. A collapsible frame antenna comprising a central boss, a plurality of radial arms pivotally attached to said boss at opposite points thereof and adapted to fold together and a support for said antenna comprising a plurality of legs attached to one of said arms near the end remote from said boss in such a way that the legs may be folded together.

3. A collapsible frame antenna comprising a central boss, a plurality of radial armsl pivotally attached to said boss and adapted to fold together and a support for said antenna comprising a plurality of legs attached to one of said arms by a pin and iff:

irl'

slot connection insuch a. Way th'att-he Weight of the frame Will force the pins to the ends of the slots thereby causing the upperends ofthe legs to bear against the frame arm and hold the legs in t-heirextended position.

l. A loop antenna frame construction which comprises a plate, a plurality of an# tenna supporting arms radiating` from said plate and pivoted thereto, and means on the arms adapted to automatically lock the arms to the plate When'the arms arev moved to normal expanded position.

A loop antenna frame construction, which comprises a plate, a plurality ot antenna supporting"arms radiating Jfrom said plate and pivoted thereto, and springmeans on the arms adapted to automatically' lock [he arms tothe plate when the arms are moved to normal expanded position.

6. In a foldable antenna loop holder, a holding member having a stop surface, a pluralityoi pivot-sron said member, said p'ivotsspaced apart from saidstop surface, aplurality of arms mounted to swing upon said pivots, a loop on said arms said loop lying in a plane beyond the plane of the pivotsv and towards theplane of the stop surface whereby said arms are t-ensioned against said stop surface when in open posit-ion. Y

7. A portable antennaloop' holder and support, comprising a base plate having a top sur ace,a loop. and loop supporting arms,-sa'id arms radiating from said plate and hinged thereto at spaced points to' form with said plate a togglejoint 'for locking (he Aarms in open position.

8; In' an' antennal loop, radiating arms liealrable at the centre to' fold upon each other, a loop on said arms and a toggle con- |,.,etion` including a base'pl'atefand spaced pivots for tensioning the loop andlocking the arms in open posit-ion.

9. In an antenna loop, radiating arms brealrable at lthe centrel to fold upon each other, a loop on said-arms and a base plate or toggle joint member on which said arms open and are locked in open position.

10. A collapsible radio receiving loop comprising` a frame having vertical and horizontal arnis in hinged relation, to be capable" ot folding into pa allelisin, the outer entre of the armsv having means for engaging the coiled wire and said arms having means whereby the tension of the strung wire holds them extended for service.

11.1K` collapsible radio receiving loop` comprising a frame having vertical and horizontal arms, a fitting. means tor pivoting said arms. at their butt ends, respectively to said fitting, whereby said arms are rendered capable otfolding into parallelism,

the outer ends of the arms having means for engaging having means whereby the tension of the strung Wire holds them extended `orservice.

12. collapsible radio receiving loop' comprising a trame having radial arms -ar`V ranged in lengthwise pairs, a fitting common to said arms having a stop plate, pivots upon said fitting engaging thel butt ends of said arms, said arms provided at their free ends with Wire engaging means, offset relatively to the pivots, whereby the tension of Athe strung Wire is exerted in the plane of the chordintersecting the Wire engaging means, pressing the arms against the stop plate.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set` my hand lthis twenty-third 1924.

dayof January,

R. C. i GLINKER.

ene coiled Wire, and saidarms 

